Internal combustion engine



Jan. 14, 1936. E. 1 WEITZEL' INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE F11-ed Julyme,

a 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 14, 1936. E, WEITZEL 2,027,891

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WITNESS A EIL Z/ezze WW? M,@WLWM u A'ITORNEY Jan. 14, 19346.

E. L.\ wErrzEL INTERNAL /COMBUSTION ENGIN 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 6, 1934 INVENTOR L/Zytzel ATTO WITNESS y@ RNEY atented Jan. 14, 1936 nir srAres PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines of the Diesel type.

An object of the invention is the provision of an internal combustion engine of the Diesel type in which a piston is movable in a cylinder and provided with a chamber connected with a source of compressed air with the opposite ends of the piston being provided with spring-controlled valves for supplying the opposite ends of the cylinder with compressed air directly from the chamber, the valves being controlled by differential pressures between the chambers in the piston and the combustion chambers at opposite sides of the piston.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an internal combustion engine of the Diesel type in which two impulses are' imparted to a revolving member at each revolution, the engine being so constructed that not only a high speed will be had but a greater horse power will be obtained for the weight of the engine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an internal combustion engine of the Diesel type in which a combustion chamber is provided at each end of the cylinder and between the piston, the compressed air being introduced to the combustion chamber through a central chamber provided in the piston which is connected with a source of air under pressure, the supply of compressed air to the combustion chamber being controlled by the differential pressures existing between the chamber in the piston and the combustion chambers, springs being employed for closing the intake valves when the pressures on opposite sides of the valve have been equalized.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an internal combustion engine of the Diesel type in which two power impulses are imparted during a single rotation of the flywheel, the flywheel being operated by a rod connected with the piston having a cam roller movable in a `groove on the flywheel or master wheel for causing` rotation of said wheel.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an internal combustion engine of the Diesel type in which a piston is slidably mounted in a cylinder with a combustion chamber at each end of the cylinder, the piston being provided with a water chamber and a compressed air chamber, a hollow piston rod being connected to the piston and in communication with the water chamber so that the piston is not only cooled internally but the rod is likewise cooled.

This invention will be best understood from a (Cl. 12S-61) consideration of the following detaileddescription, in view of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not conned to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications as define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through one of the cylinders taken along the line of Figure 2,

Figure 2 is an end View of the engine showing the co-ordinated relationship of a plurality of cylinders,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a side View of the complete engine,

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section of a pump for forcing liquid fuel into the combustion chambers of the cylinders, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of part of the operating means for the pump piston for forcing the fuel into the combustion chamber.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I designates a plurality of engine units which are arranged around a driving shaft mounted in bearings |2` connected in any approved manner with the brackets I3 which are connected to `water jackets I4 in any approved manner. It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the brackets I3 also provide bearings for cam shaft I5.

Each unit consists of a cylinder 20 embraced by the water jacket I4 and has heads 2| and 22 at the opposite ends thereof. These heads are hollow and are in communication with the water jacket I4. This water jacket is supplied with water by a pipe 23 in a manner which will presently be explained. A pipe 24 forms an outlet for the water from the jacket and this water is conducted back to the source- A piston, designated by the numeral 25, is provided with a central chamber 26 for compressed air and two end chambers 2l and 28- A hollow piston rod 29 is connected to the piston 25 and is in communication with the chamber 2l which is in direct communication with the chamber 23 through a plurality of passages 30.

A sleeve 3| is connected with a source of water by means of a pipe 32 and this sleeve embraces a tubular member 33 located centrally and longitudinally of the sleeve 3| so that the space between the tubular member 33 and the sleeve 3| forms a water conduit 34 which at its inner end is threaded into a boss 35 on one end of the piston 25 and this conduit is in direct communication With the chamber 28 so that water is supplied directly from the pipe 32 to the chambers 21 and 28 at the opposite ends of the piston 25.

The outer end of the sleeve 3| is closed by a cap 86 which is threaded 'onto the sleeve so that the cap may be removed when desired.

A check valve 31 is located in a valve cage 38 connected with the pipe 32 and is maintained on its seat by a spring 39 to prevent the back flow of water from the sleeve 3| to the source of supply.

The rod 29 is hollow and is ln open communication at 40 with the chamber 21 at the inner end of said rod. The outer end of the rod is provided with a nipple 4| which is connected with the pipe 23 so that the Water from the cylinder head and the rod 29 will be returned to the Water jacket I4 and the hollow heads 2| and 22 of the cylinder. This Water, as has been previously eX- plained, is discharged through the outlet pipe 24. The pipe 23 may be flexible or there may be provided a sliding connection for maintaining the hollow rod 29 in communication with the Water jacket I4.

The opposite ends of the piston 25 are provided With passages 45 and 46 which connect the opposite ends of the cylinders or combustion chambers 41 and 48, respectively, with the compressed air chamber 26 in the piston. It will be noted that these passages are surrounded by the Water jackets in the piston 25. An inlet valve 49 is located in each passage 45 and has a stem 50 projecting into the passage and engaged by a spring 5| for moving the valves 49 on their seats when the pressures in the chamber 26 and the combustion chamber 41 have been equalized.

Valves 52 are adapted to control the passages 46 and are maintained on their seats by means of springs 53. These valves are closed when the pressure in the chamber 26 is equal to the pressure in the combustion chamber 48 and are maintained closed as long as these pressures are in equilibrium or the pressure is greater in the combustion chamber 48 than in the compressed air chamber 26.

A pipe 55 is connected with a source of compressed air and is directly in communication With the tubular member 33. The inner end of the tubular member is threaded, as shown at 56, into a wall 51 of the compressed air chamber 26. The inner end of the tubular member is provided with a nozzle 58 and this nozzle carries a check valve 59 maintained on its seat by means of a spring 69 and this check valve prevents back flow of air from the chamber 26 to the supply pipe 55. It will be noted that either a fiexible hose may connect the tubular member 33 With the source of compressed air or a sliding sleeve may be employed which is connected between the source of supply and the tubular member 33 for supplying the tubular member with compressed air.

The head 2| is provided With exhaust passages 6| controlled by valves 62 adapted to engage seats 63. Each valve is operated by a stem 64 and is adapted to be closed by a spring 65.

Exhaust valves 66 are located in the head 22 and are also moved to closed position by means of a spring 65 located within a housing 66. These valves are also provided With stems 64 which project beyond the housing 66 and are provided with a head 61 as are the stems 64 of the valves 62. Each of the housings 66 is provided with discharge openings 68 for the exhaust gases.

A lever 10 is pivotally mounted at 1| on a bracket 12 on similarly positioned housings 66 at the opposite ends of the cylinder 20.

At each end of the cylinder 20 is a lever 13 pivotally mounted at one end on a bracket 12 and this lever is provided with a fork 41 embracing the fork 15 on the lever 1D. The inner ends of the fork 14 are provided with slots 16 to receive pins 11 carried by the fork 15- The forks adjacent the cylinder head 2| embrace the outer end of the rod 29 While the similarly constructed forks adjacent the head 22 embrace the sleeve 3| The outer end of the lever 10 adjacent the head 2| is provided with a cam roller 80 adapted to engage a cam member 8| which is secured to the cam shaft I5. This cam member is provided with a raised portion 82 adapted when engaging the roller for reciprocating the levers 10 and 13 adjacent the cylinder head 2| for opening the exhaust valves 62.

The lever 10 adjacent the head 22 is provided with a cam roller 83 adapted to engage a cam member 84 having a raised portion 85 for moving the outer end of the lever 10 outwardly so that the inner portion of the lever 10 will force the head 61 and the stem 64 inwardly and likewise the valve 66 to permit discharge of exhaust gases from the combustion chamber 48. The lever 13 adjacent the cylinder head 22 is operated simultaneously with the lever 10 for opening the other exhaust valves 66.

The cam shaft 5 is provided with a gear 86 meshing With a gear 81 secured to the drive shaft Il.

A fuel oil pump has a nozzle 8| opening into the combustion chamber 41 while a fuel pump 92 has a nozzle 93 opening into the combustion chamber 48.

Referring more particularly to Figs. l, 5, and 6 it will be seen that a special construction of pump is provided having a cylinder 94 which has a pump barrel 95 adapted to be supplied by fuel oil by means of a pipe 96 opening into the barrel 95. A plunger 91 is slidably mounted in the barrel 95 and extends into the cylinder 94. A valve stem 88 passes through the outer end 99 of the cylinder 94 through the piston 61 and is provided with a valve |00 which projects into the respective combustion chamber when in open position. This valve is adapted to engage its seat |0| formed in the end wall of the barrel 95.

An operating mechanism for the piston or plunger 91 and the valve stem 98 consists of a bracket |62 secured to or formed integrally with the water jacket i4. On the upper free end of this bracket is pivotally mounted at |03 a bellcrank lever i 04 having an arm |05 extending outwardly from the Water jacket |4 and provided With a cam-engaging member |06 adapted to be engaged by a cam |01 for rocking the arm |05 and likewise an arm |08 for a purpose which Will be presently explained. The cam member is in the form of a disc |99 which is secured to the drive shaft Il.

The outer free end of the arm |08 is provided with a fork i0 which embraces a reduced portion of the piston or plunger 91. Diametrically disposed pins ||2 carried by the reduced portion are received Within the slots I3 formed in the fork H0. A coil spring 5 tends to move the plunger or piston 91 to a normal outward position.

A lever |20 has a short arm pivoted at |2| on the arm |08 adjacent the pivot point |03 of the bell-crank |04. The. long arm or lever is connected at I 22 with a depending bar |23 which is formed of spring-steel. The outer end of the lever |20 is provided with a fork |24 having slots |25 to receive pins |26 carried by the valve stem 98. A spring engaging the cover 99 of the cylinder 94 tends to move the valve stem outwardly and seat the valve |00.

A lug |3I which is formed integrally with the depending member |23 is adapted to engage beneath the arm |08 so that when said arm is lowered the lever |20 will likewise be lowered. A cam member |32 is carried by the water jacket I4 and is adapted to be engaged by a toe |33 having an inclined face |34 for moving the depending member |23 outwardly from the arm |03 so that the lever will be released from the arm |00 whereby the spring |30 will seat the valve |00.

A flywheel or master wheel |40 is shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4 and the. outer surface of this wheel is provided with a cam groove having curved sections |4| and |42, |43 and |44. These grooves form a continuous groove around the rim of the flywheel I 40.

Each of the outer ends of the rods 29 is provided with a cam roller |45 mounted upon an axle |46 carried by a reduced portion |41 of the rod 29. The rollers |45 are disposed within the cam grooves in the rim ofthe flywheel |40 so that as the rods 29 are reciprocated these rollers moving within the grooves will bear against one edge of the grooves and cause the iiywheel to be revolved.

It will be noted that the hollow rod 29 moves through a bearing |50 which has a packing |5I embracing the rod. A bearing |52 receives the sleeve 3| and a packing |53 embraces the sleeve and prevents loss of fluid at this point.

It will be noted that I have shown three cylinders arranged around the drive shaft II so that there will be three piston rods having rollers |45 engaging the respective grooves in the rim of the flywheel |40 at 120 apart. The specic construction of the cylinder together with the piston and the related operating parts disclose an example of the construction of each of the internal combustion units.

The timing of each piston and the valves is such that two power impulses are imparted to the flywheel |40 at each revolution thereof.

Compressed air is supplied through the pipe 55 and the tubular member 33 to the central chamber 25 of each piston. As shown in Fig. 1 the combustion chamber is being scavenged by the compressed air from the chamber 20 with the exhaust valves 62 open. The piston 25, however, is at the end of the compression stroke for the chamber 48 and the liquid fuel valve |00 is shown open. In view of the fact that the cam |01 has sharply inclined walls the operation of the pump and the opening of the valve |00 is only momentary for supplying a small quantity of liquid fuel to the compressed air in the combustion chamber 43. As this liquid fuel begins to burn the compressed air is greatly heated and expanded so that the piston is moved towards the cylinder head 2|.

The cams 05 adjacent the cylinder head 22 are out of engagement with the rollers 83 so that the exhaust valve 66 will remain closed.

The cams 82 are so shaped that they will maintain the exhaust valve 62 open until the combustion chamber 41 is thoroughly scavenged when the flap or disc portion of the member 8| will receive the cam roller 80 and permit the spring 55 to close the exhaust valve.

Near the end of the compression stroke in the chamber 41 the cam |0`|a on the drive shaft II will engage the member |05a on arm |05al and thereby operate the pump 90 for forcing the liquid fuel into the compressed air. The high temperature of the compressed air will cause burning of the liquid fuel and thereby increase the temperature of the compressed air so that when the piston 25 is on its return movement work will be exerted on said piston and the piston will be moved in the opposite direction.

These operations just described occur ln each of the three cylinders and in a uniform manner with two power impulses imparted to the respective piston rods 29 during each revolution of the flywheel or master Wheel |40.

Each valve 49 is mounted in a sleeve 49a which is threaded into the wall of the passage 45. Each valve 52 is carried by .a sleeve 52a which is threaded to the wall of the passage 46 so that the valves 49 and 52 together with their springs are removable as a unit from the piston.

I claim:

l. In an internal combustion engine of the Diesel type, a cylinder, a piston dividing the cylinder into a pair of combustion chambers, one at each side of the piston, the piston having a chamber, passages connecting the chamber with the combustion chambers, inlet valves for controlling the passages, springs co-operating with the differential pressures between the piston chamber `and the combustion chambers for causing closing of the valves, said differential pressures causing opening of said valves, a tube having one end opening into the chamber in the piston, the other end projecting beyond the adjacent end of the cylinder and connected with a source of compressed air.

2. In an internal combustion engine of the Diesel type, a cylinder, a piston dividing the cylinder into a pair of combustion chambers, one at each side of the piston, the piston having a chamber, passages connecting the chamber with the combustion chambers, inlet valves for controlling the passages, springs co-operating with the differential pressures between the piston chamber and the combustion chambers for causing closing of the valves, said differential pressures causing opening of said valves, a tube having one end opening into an end of the piston and connected with a source of compressed air, and a check valve in the tube for preventing back pressure from the piston to the tube.

3. In an internal combustion engine of the Diesel type, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder having a central chamber for compressed air and a chamber embracing the central chamber and forming a water jacket, a tube in communication with the central chamber and with a source of compressed air, said tube projecting beyond one end of the cylinder, a sleeve enclosing the tube having the inner end in communication with the water jacket and the other end. in communication with a source of Water.

4. In an internal combustion engine of the Diesel type, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder having a central chamber for compressed air and a chamber embracing the central chamber and forming a water jacket, a tube in communication with the central chamber and with a source of compressed air, said tube projecting beyond one end of the cylinder, a sleeve enclosing the tube having the inner end in -communication with the water jacket and the other end in communication with a source of Water, a water jacket embracing the cylinder, a hollow rod connected to the piston and in communication with the Water jacket of the piston, the outer end of the rod projecting beyond the other end of the cylinder, and means for placing the outer end of the hollow rod in communication with the cylinder Water jacket.

5. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and having an outer shell and an inner shell spaced from the Walls of the outer shell so that the Walls of the inner shell will not be aiected directly by the intense heat of combustion, said inner shell having a compressed air chamber, the opposite Walls of the inner and outer shell being provided with aligned openings, sleeves connecting pairs of the aligned openings to provide communication between the interior of the chamber in the inner shell and the cylinder, a valve closing the outer end of each sleeve, -a spring for maintaining the valve closed, and means for supplying the chamber in the inner shell with air under pressure.

6. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and dividing the cylinder into a pair of combustion chambers at each side of the piston, said piston including an outer shell and an inner shell spaced from the walls of the outer shell, the inner shell having a cornpressed air'chamber, sleeves forming passages between the chamber in the inner shell and the combustion chamber, a spring-controlled valve in each sleeve and adapted to be opened by pressure within the chamber in the inner shell, said sleeves providing means for aiding in supporting the inner shell within the outer shell and in spaced relation from the Walls of the outer shell, a tube in communication with the inner chamber and connected to the piston, and means for supplying said tube with air under pressure.

7. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and dividing the cylinder into a pair of combustion chambers at each side of the piston, said piston including an outer shell and an inner shell spaced from the walls of the outer shell, the inner shell having a compressed air chamber, sleeves forming pas'- sages between the chamber in the inner shell and the combustion chamber, a spring-controlled valve in each sleeve and adapted to be opened by pressure Within the chamber in the inner shell, said sleeves providing means for aiding in supporting the inner shell Within the outer shell and in spaced relation from the Walls of the outer shell, a tube in communication With the inner chamber and connected to the piston, means for supplying said tube with air under pressure, a valve cage at the inner end of the tube and projecting into the chamber, a valve in the cage to permit air under pressure to enter the chamber but to prevent the air in the chamber from entering the tube.

' EDWARD L. WEITZEL. 

